Star Wars returns to theaters for the first time in seven years with Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu, and the film arrives on September 30, 2026 as a Blu-ray + DVD set and a 4K UHD + Blu-ray set, both packaged with a deluxe outer case as a first-press bonus.
Breathing Life Into Strange Aliens: A New Look at The Dejarik Match
The Hutt Twins, a criminal syndicate, hire the Mandalorian to rescue Jabba the Hutt's son, Rotta. But Rotta isn't a captive — he has chosen to live as a fighter in gladiatorial combat. The Mandalorian and Rotta face off in an arena built around the round, chessboard-like game known as The Dejarik Match. Lateef Crowder, the Mandalorian's stunt performer and stunt fight coordinator, praised the set, saying it looked "exactly like the game from the films." Co-writer Noah Kloor reveals that Dejarik is designed, within the story, as a game modeled on real combat matches. ILM visual effects supervisor John Knoll also discusses the challenge of portraying the creatures as living beings, describing the attention paid to details like breathing, bodies with blood coursing through them, bad breath, and wrinkles. The new footage offers a look at how these aliens — long known only as holographic game pieces — are brought vividly to life for The Dejarik Match.
Alongside this new footage, the Blu-ray and digital release (purchase) include a full lineup of bonus content: "The Dejarik Match: The Challenge of Bringing It to Life," the newly unveiled featurette; "From the Snowy Plains to the Swamp World," which explores the film's sweeping world building; "Behind the Scenes," which gets at the essence of the film; and "Welcome to Shakari," introducing the new planet setting. Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu is available on Blu-ray + DVD, 4K UHD + Blu-ray, and via digital purchase or rental.
The Design Philosophy Behind Star Wars' Creatures: "80% Reality"
Production designer Doug Chiang describes the design approach behind Star Wars as "80 percent reality, 20 percent twist" — grounding unfamiliar beings in familiar shapes and textures so audiences feel an instant sense of connection to them. George Lucas, the creator of the franchise, has likewise long portrayed strange beings as an ordinary part of his stories' worlds. According to director Jon Favreau, it's the way characters accept these beings so naturally that draws audiences into the galaxy. That same blend of strangeness and familiarity carries through in the film's new creatures as well.
Distributor: Walt Disney Japan / Distribution and Sales: Happinet Media Marketing
Also available now via digital purchase, distributed by Walt Disney Japan.
© 2026 & TM Lucasfilm Ltd
Official Site: https://starwars.disney.co.jp/movie/mandalorian-grogu
Story: With the Empire fallen, the galaxy has become a lawless frontier. The bounty hunter Mandalorian and Grogu, who holds a powerful connection to the Force, are the last hope standing between the galaxy and a new war aimed at restoring the Empire — bound together by a bond that goes beyond father and son.
